1 / 6Berlin's Reichstag Building is home to the German Bundestag (federal parliament), and its glass dome is one of the city's most rewarding views — the good news is that visiting the dome and roof terrace is completely free. There is no entry ticket to buy. The only catch is that you cannot simply walk in off the street: everyone must register in advance through the official Bundestag visitor service, and your name and date of birth are checked against photo ID at the door.
🎟️Browse things to do in Berlin →Entry is free — but you must register first
Let's be clear, because there's a lot of confusion online: the Reichstag dome and roof terrace cost nothing to enter. No third party sells "skip-the-line tickets" for independent visits, because there is no ticket to sell. What you do need is a free advance registration.
Independent registration is handled only through the official Bundestag visitor service at bundestag.de (also via visite.bundestag.de). You'll need to provide each visitor's name and date of birth, and bring the matching photo ID with you — it's checked at the security building on arrival.
Slots open around three months ahead and, in peak season, sell out weeks in advance. If you know your Berlin dates, book this as early as you can.
What's inside
- The glass dome — Norman Foster's famous free-to-visit dome, with a spiral walkway leading up and 360° views over Berlin.
- The rooftop terrace — overlooking the Brandenburg Gate and the surrounding government quarter.
- A working parliament — the building is the seat of the German Bundestag, so you're stepping into the heart of federal politics.
Where it is and when to go
The Reichstag stands at Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, in the Government Quarter (Regierungsviertel) in Mitte, just north of the Brandenburg Gate. It's open daily from 08:00 until midnight, with last entry at 22:00 — which means an evening visit for sunset and the city lights is very doable, and often quieter than midday.
Getting there is easy: the nearest stops are S/U-Bahn Brandenburger Tor and U-Bahn Bundestag (U5), and it's a short walk from Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Enter via the visitor security building, and remember to carry the photo ID that matches your registration.
Prefer a guided tour? That's the one thing you can book ahead
If the free registration slots are gone, or you'd simply rather have the history explained and the logistics handled for you, a guided tour is a genuine option. Operators run guided tours of the Reichstag and government district where the guide arranges the group's dome access for you — so dome entry is bundled into the tour. You're paying for the guided experience and the hassle-free organised access, not for entry itself (which remains free if you register independently).
What's nearby
The Reichstag sits in the middle of Berlin's most walkable sightseeing cluster. The Brandenburg Gate is a couple of minutes' walk south, with the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe just beyond it. From there it's a short stroll to Tiergarten park, Pariser Platz, and Unter den Linden. If you want paid, bookable experiences to fill out the day, guided walking tours of the government district and wider Berlin history tours are the natural pairing with a free dome visit.
Good news: Reichstag Building is free
There's no entry ticket — you can just walk in. No need to book anything in advance.
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Skip the queues with pre-booked tickets. Compare prices across GetYourGuide and Tiqets — both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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